Can’t Access some Files on my iPad

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Level 1

10 points

Can’t Access some Files on my iPad

I have a Hard Disk Drive with a USB-C cable that I connected to my iPad. However, diving through the ‘Files’ app, some of the folders in my drive are accessible and some are not, displaying a message: “Content Unavailable. The folder contents could not be displayed because of an unknown error.”

I’m not use how to fix it and I’m positive it’s not my HDD, as I have used it on other devices and also the same iPad reads perfectly other files in it, with no issue. Does someone know? Thanks in advance.

iPad

Posted on Jan 4, 2024 4:10 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

rom.ph

Level 4

2,021 points

Jan 4, 2024 4:21 PM in response to jmairenaa

Curious, is that portable drive a mechanical drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD)?

If it is HDD, it may be that the files are too big that the iPad cannot provide enough power to spin up and retrieve the file (similar to folders with multiple files). If there is a way for you to power the HDD separately, this might solve the access issue.

Good luck!

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Answer 2

rom.ph

Level 4

2,021 points

Jan 4, 2024 4:35 PM in response to jmairenaa

It might but then again, it may be too much hassle. Best to find a USB-C hub that you can power separately.

Something like this Belkin Connect USB-C Data + Charge Adapter - Apple

Good luck.

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Answer 3

jmairenaa Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 4, 2024 4:26 PM in response to rom.ph

It may be, it’s a very large folder… Could dividing the files into smaller folders work?

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Answer 4

Jun 3, 2024 8:22 PM in response to jmairenaa

Any fixes for this yet?

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Answer 5

Jun 17, 2024 4:52 PM in response to jmairenaa

Any updates on this one? I am a videographer and thus handle heavy files, I have a 2TB hard drive which is now full of raw videos with each file amounting to around 5-13GB.

Does that affect the view at all? I am viewing through Files app. I cannot view some videos but can view the others and playback is pretty awful.

Is that normal? I am using the iPad Pro m4, 500gb

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Answer 6

Akahlon2

Level 1

8 points

Jun 24, 2024 1:34 PM in response to jmairenaa

I’ve only been experiencing this on the latest iPad Pro model. I also own the previous but haven’t had this issue come up. I was using a SanDisk 4TB SSD that started having this problem so I switched to the Samsung 4TB SSD. EVERYTHING was great once I switched, however the issue came up again today when I added new video files. All my previous files I’m still able to access but the new folder’s a no go… smh.

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Can’t Access some Files on my iPad

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